THE GODS DEPART

long by fifty yards across. Within this narrow space
trained athletes exhibited their strength and skill;
gladiators contested with blunted swords, or with
nets and tridents; wild bulls were incited to gore
each other ; strange animals imported from Africa
at Diocletian's own expense—giraffes, hippopotami,
zebras, and apes—were crowded together in a terrified
herd, while the audience shouted to increase their
panic, and were convulsed with laughter at their
awkward movements, their bewildered faces, and wild
efforts to escape. When negroes with long whips had
driven them back to their stalls, there was an interval
during which slaves cleaned the arena and covered it
with fresh sand, while the spectators drank from wine-
flasks and devoured the provisions they had brought
with them in bags.

" The populace is awaiting the top of the climax,5'
said Diocletian, looking round upon the crowded tiers
with amused toleration. " After all, death gives the
common mind its keenest emotion ; you might almost
say its one touch of poetry. To-day they celebrate
a special sacrifice to Mars, and there are military
executions in his honour. I take no pleasure in such
things ; I have seen too many deaths. No death can
interest me now—except perhaps my own,55 he added,
with his characteristic smile.

" Let us go then, Sire,35 said Julianus.
" Oh, no ! I must see the end,55 Diocletian an-
swered wearily. " The people would be hurt if we
went. They are only carrying out one of my own
decrees, and c who wishes the end, wishes the means,'
as the jurists say. Besides, you know old MartiaTs
epigram—' Cato goes out from the theatre. Why,
then, did he come ? Was it that he might go out ?'
But here come the criminals. First there is a pack of

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